Delays in gaming are now more common than they once were. In the current gaming landscape, the pressure to get it right the first time is more prevalent than ever, as it can be the deciding factor for many in whether to try out a game or completely write it off. So delays aren’t inherently bad, because they mean a game needs more polish and the developers wanna get it right. And in the case of the challenging action RPG with survival elements, Outward 2, the developers have decided to delay the game to 2027, a month before its initial July 2026 release. And the reasoning behind this is that they recognized that the game isn’t ready to ship, and they don’t want to disappoint their fans. The feedback from their Beta was the key to this delay, as many wished for the game to be worked on more before launch, and Nine Dot Studios listened, so respect to them.
Outward 2 is a challenging action RPG with survival elements, and currently has a beta you can join to experience the game for yourself. And thanks to all the feedback from the Beta, Nine Dots Studio has recognized that Outward 2 needs more work before jumping into early access. “It’s hard to gauge what is the appropriate degree of stability expected for Early Access. The best we can do is take a hard, honest look at the game, and at our team, and ask: in a few weeks, will this be good enough to charge money for? Our aim is to have such a stark jump between this Beta and the Early Access launch that we earn the trust of our players. ”
They also recognized that if they had gone through with their initial release, they would have shipped a product that would have disappointed many, and they didn’t want that, which is one of the hardest things a developer can do.
“I know that this might seem sudden, as not that long ago we released a trailer inviting people to explore Aurai during summer, but the truth is that if we just stick to the plan stubbornly, we’re delivering a product that might not satisfy your expectations. The last thing we want to do is disappoint fans of Outward, and there has been a lot of comments stating that they wish for the game to spend more time in development before the launch.”
It always sucks seeing a game you want to play be delayed, especially so close to launch, but at the end of the day, both players and developers want the game to succeed, so if it isn’t ready, it’s best to delay it to release a satisfying product. And when the developer takes player feedback and recognizes that the game needs work, it is great and deserves a lot of respect, especially in the current landscape. Outward 2 currently has a beta on Steam that you can join. The game is now set to release in 2027, so why not jump in and help Nine Dots Studio bring a product everyone can enjoy.